The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-02-18
The Texas Panhandle.

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political, social and material curiosity
of this country, There is nothing like
1t in this country or any other country.
II is strictly original, stands out by
itself and freezes on to its peculiarities
with steadfastness characteristic of
America in general and Texas in par.
ticular.
The political and social condition of
things in the Psn-Handle would not
be tolerated by any other State but
Texas. The Pan Handle is q kind of
off-shoot of the State. 1t does not con-
slider itself part of the commonwealth
in good standing.
The Pan. Handle covers territory
about as large as the State of New
York. 1t extends from the Indian
Territory, on the north, almost TO the
Texas & Pacific railroad, on the south,
and from New Mexico, on the west,
almost to the Fort Worth 81 Denver
railroad, on the east. 1t is larger than
many European countries that sing
loud in an international chorus. With
in its confines are mountains and for
ests, lakes and stream, valleys and
rivers, iron mines, copper mines, silver
mines, coal mites that are known OF,
and perhaps much more mineral wealth
that is not known of, hamlets, ranches,
caves, mesas, mineral springs, steep
precipices, shady groves, and many
verdant plains.
The Pan Handle is divided into fifty
three counties, but not more than six
or seven of them are organized. The
people of the Pan Handle have a very
supreme contempt for law, and have
not much more use for a sheriff or an
attorney than they have for grass
burner or a cattle thief. When the
word "law" is used it should be re-
membered that it applies to the enact
ments of what the Panhandle folks
oontemptuously term the "Austin law
factory" There is an unwritten code
in the Pan-H Handle, and woe to the
man who violates it. A man must not
steal cattle in the Pan Handle neither
must he cut fences, burn grass, fiji up
wells with earth, break dams, or kill a
man ia cold blood. There are less
than one hundred women in the Pan
Handle, and they are oil good women.
There are no jails in the region, fines
are looked upon with contempt, and
the only punishment awarded to those
who violate the code of the region is
death or expulsion. If man BILLS an
other in fight he has to answer before
no law court; his right to kill a man
in fair fight is not questi oned.
If man kill another by stealth, that
is if he steals up behind him and
plunges a knife in his back, or sh BOTS
him unawares, Judge Lynch immed-
lately takes hold of the offender, ad.
ministers rigid justice devoid of tech
nicalities or bubbles, or stays of pro
ceeding, and if the murder was cold
blooded and cowardly the murderer is
more certain of being hanged than he
would be in St. Louis, Chicago, New
York, San Francisco, New Orleans or
Galveston. If man is convicted of
cattle stealing before JUDGE Lynch he
is certain of being hanged. If man
is caught cutting fence, or setting
fire to grass he is shot down without
hesitation, or, if subsequently arraig.
ned before Judge Lynch and it is
shown on testimony, direct or circum-
stantial, that he was guilty of the Of
fense, he will be hanged. This is
about all the law they have in the Pan
Handle. A man must take care of
himself He must fight his own bat.
ties. If he is not able to fight, if he
is afraid TO fight, if he has any preju-
dice against fighting be had better
seek some other location than the Pan
Handle of Texas for an abiding place.
In fact, the Pan Handle might be de-
scribed as one vast region devoid of
law. defying law, getting along com.
fortably without law. Here may be
found murderers from Maine, forgers
from New York, defaulters from Ohio,
fends from Georgia, horse thieves
from Missouri, deserters from every
regiment in the United States army,
road agents from California, bullion
thieves from Nevada, ballot box stuff
ers from Illinois, escaped convicts
from every state in the Union, and
fugitives from justice from every civil
lized country in the world. In the
confines of the Pan Handle man is as
safe from writ, from handouts, from
the clutch of sheriff as if he were a
squatter on quarter section in the
arctic circle. Many men with various
prices on their heads in different
States of the Union are now prosper
GUS citizens in the Pan Handle of
Texas-men who now count their cat
tie by the thousands, whose barbed-
wire fences measure many hundred
miles.
Of course the great majority of the
Panhandle people are not addicted to
reminiscence. The man who received
mail matter from former home in an.
other State is rarity. But, of course
there are exceptions. No doubt many
Panhandle men could prove that they
are wearing the same name now that
they inherited from their parents. But
1t is not considered good taste in the
Pan-Haudle to be too inquisitive, and
the man who persists in delving into
the affairs of another man is almost
certain to have a fight on his hands
without unnecessary delay.
Nearly half the men of the region
are known mainly by nickname
Such appellations as Curly Bill, Bron-
cho Joe, Whisky Jack, Poker Dave,
Irish Tim, Dutch Henry, Frenchy,
Scotty, Fatty, Slim, Keno Mike and
Rowdy Jim are among these frequent
ly heard at ranches and other centers
of population. The people are social,
hospilable and generous. The ethical
code of the region forbids any inquiry
concerning a stranger. If the new
arrival wants a job at wire punching
or line riding it is taken for granted
that it is his intention to become per-
manent resident if he loafs around
without attempting to secure a job at
wire punching or line riding it is taken
for granted that it is his intention to
become permanent resident; if he
loafs around without attempting to
secure a job at anything he becon es
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